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What's Happening in the UK and Ireland in 2011?

Written by Charlotte on 7th April 2011 at 17:05pm

There are always a great number of interesting and fascinating events across the UK each year. This is your one stop guide to some of the best.

Regional Events and Festivals in the UK & Ireland

The Brits really know how to have a good time and enjoy the good things in life. Each year there are a plethora of events around the region, from cheese rolling festivals, outdoor theatre events, food and wine fairs, carnivals, sporting events (dare we mention the Olympics), fashion shows and more! If you time your visit right you can catch some of these local festivities and fates or stumble across lesser known markets and fairs as your explore the countryside. This list is by no means conclusive, however, here are a few events happening around Britain this year. If you are lucky, maybe you will catch a glimpse whilst on tour or if you prefer we can plan your own private tour around these events if you have a few friends to travel with.

Name of Event	April	Location	Related Tour (event not included)
Virgon London Marathon	17/04/2011	London (various Locations)
Tulip Festival	27/04/2011	Pashley Manor Gardens, East Sussex	Historic Kent and Sussex
Exeter Festival of South West Food and Drink 2011	29/04/2011	Northernhay Gardens and Exeter Castle, Devon	King Arthur's West Country
The Royal Wedding	29/04/2011	11am Westminster Abbey	Heart of England
Jousting Tournament	30/04/2011	Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire	Heart of England
Dancing round the Maypole	30/04/2011	Hever Castle, Kent	Historic Kent and Sussex
Name of Event	May	Location	Related Tour (event not included)
100th Anniversary of the launch of the Titanic Built	May	Belfast	Northern Ireland
The Real Food Festival	05/05/2011	Earls Court, London	Highlights of Britain Heart Of England
Festival of Living Crafts, Art, Design & Innovation	05/05/2011	Hatfield House, Hertfordshire
Ludlow Spring Festival	07/05/2011	Ludlow Castle, Shropshire	Red Dragon of Wales Highlights of Britain
Southport Food and Drink Festival	12/05/2011	Southport, Merseyside	Northern England, Lakes & Dales
The Malvern Spring Gardening Show	12/05/2011	Malvern, Worcestershire	Heart of England
Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Ireland	17/05/2011 - 20/05/2011
Sounds New Contemporary Music Festival	19/05/2011	Canterbury, Kent	Historic Kent and Sussex
Home and Garden Weekend	21/05/2011	Leeds Castle, Kent	Historic Kent and Sussex
Jousting Tournament	21/05/2011	Leeds Castle, Kent	Historic Kent and Sussex
Spring Air Show	22/05/2011	Imperial War Museum Duxford
Cambridge Beer Festival	23/05/2011	Jesus Green, Cambridgeshire
President Obama’s visit to Ireland	22/05/2011 - 24/05/2011		Ireland - A Hundred Thousand Welcomes
Chelsea Flower Show	24/05/2011-28/05/2011	Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London	Chelsea Flower Show 7 & 11 Day Tours
Hertfordshire County Show	28/05/2011	St Albans, Hertfordshire	Northern England, Lakes & Dales
Art, Design and a Taste of Summer	28/05/2011	Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire	Heart of England
Merrie England Weekend	28/05/2011	Hever Castle, Kent	Historic Kent and Sussex
Name of Event	June	Location	Related Tour (event not included)
Waterford Tall Ships	June	Waterford	Classic Southern Ireland
Royal Bath & West Show	02/06/2011	Somerset	Heart of England
Gardening Scotland	03/06/2011 - 05/06/2011	Edinburgh's Royal Highland Centre at Ingliston	A Scottish Journey
The Mint Festival	04/06/2011	Yorkshire Lavender, Terrington, York	Northern England, Lakes & Dales
Taste of London 2011	16/06/2011	Regent’s Park London	Highlights of Britain Red Dragon of Wales
Name of Event	July	Location	Related Tour (event not included)
Hampton Court Flower Show	05/07/2011 - 10/07/2011	Hampton Court Palace, Surrey	Hampton Court Flower Show
2011 British Beach Polo Championships	08/07/2011	Sandbanks, Poole
Buxton Festival 2011	09/07/2011	Buxton, Derbyshire	Northern England, Lakes & Dales
The English Lavender Festival	09/07/2011	Yorkshire Lavender, Terrington, York	Northern England, Lakes & Dales Highlights of Britain
Falconry & Owl Day	10/07/2011	Rockingham Castle, Leicestershire
Glorious Gloucestershire	13/07/2011	Gloucester Cathedral	Heart of England
Whitstable Oyster Festival	23/07/2011	Whitstable, Kent	Historic Kent and Sussex
The Thyme Festival	23/07/2011	Yorkshire Lavender, Terrington, York	Northern England, Lakes & Dales Highlights of Britain
Name of Event	August	Location	Related Tour (event not included)
Taunton Flower Show	05/08/2011	Vivary Park, Taunton, Somerset	Heart of England
Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo	05/08/2011 - 27/08/2011	Edinburgh Castle	Edinburgh Tattoo Scottish Castles, Whisky & Lochs
Whitstable 218th Anniversary Regatta	13/08/2011	Whitstable, Kent	Historic Kent and Sussex
World Pipe Band Championships	13/08/2011	Glasgow Green, Greendyke Street, Glasgow,	A Scottish Journey
Blair Castle International Horse Trials And Country Fair	18/08/2011	Blair Castle,Blair Atholl, Pitlochry,	Scottish Castles, Whisky & Lochs
Herne Bay Festival	20/08/2011	Kent	Historic Kent and Sussex
Name of Event	September	Location	Related Tour (event not included)
Dundee Flower & Food Festival 2011	02/09/2011	Camperdown Country Park, Dundee
Highland Games: Braemar Gathering	03/09/2011	The Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park, City Of Aberdeen	A Scottish Journey
ABSOLUT Fringe Festival	10/09/2011	Dublin City Centre	Classic Southern Ireland
Harrogate 2011 Autumn Flower Show	16/09/2011	Harrogate, north Yorkshire	Highlights of Britain
Culture Night	23/09/2011	Temple Bar, Dublin
Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival 2011	29/09/2011	Various venues	Classic Southern Ireland
Name of Event	October	Location	Related Tour (event not included)
The Children’s Book Festival 2011	01/10/2011	Various venues, Dublin	Classic Southern Ireland
Autumn Air Show	16/10/2011	Imperial War Museum Duxford

Please note: These events are for your reference only and are not updated regularly. We strongly recommend that you check directly with the event organiser before you plan your attendance. Our tours (other than those which specifically include the event in the tour entrances) do not include these events in their scheduled program, however, you might find that it is possible to attend certain events before, during or after your tour independently. If it is possible to visit a local festival or event on the tour, we will certainly try our best if this is the decision of the group. We hope this is generally helpful information. If you have any comments or would like to add any more events to this page please e-mail us at info@backroadstouroing.co.uk